the whole variety of uses. >> and while pears may have a sweet history in this area, the people of courtland will tell you it's the future that's ripe for success. >> a pear is a unique fruit. there's nothing really like it, and i don't think they'll ever go away. in ancient times, they were called the fruit of the gods. and it really is a great, great piece of fruit. if you'll let it ripen prerly and you have the ideal riping process going on, it's great, and they'll never go away. they'll always be here. there will be some pears here for a long, long time. [man vocalizing] >> welcome back to "california country". >> today on "food 101," we're going to be talkg about how to pick the best produce, and there's nobody better to tell us about that than my friend greg corrigan of raley's, vice-president of produce and floral here. so first of all, tomatoes. how do you pk the best tomato? >> well, tomatoes here, one of our best sellers is the tomato on the vine, as you're seeing right here. so they're grown actually indoors, so most of the time, all you gotta look for is make sure there's no blem

find all of those adjectives describe another central valley city-- the agricultural oasis known as courtland. here along the delta, farming once thrived as 49ers came searching for riches during the gold rush. and now it's up to people like tim neuharth to keep that history alive by farming the land that has given him and his family so much. >> so the family's been here since 1848 here on the delta. came out here for the gold rush and found gold elsewhere. found out that there was a market for fruit to feed everybody, and grain and all of that. cherries were a big thing here at one time, asparagus was a big thing here at one time. but now it's involved. pears are still a major pear growing region here in the delta. >> tim, along with his wife and 2 sons and 81-year-old mother all care for the most recognizable crop along the delta these days--pears. he has around 50 acres of them, growing mainly bartletts and what's being harvested today, golden russet boscs. both of whh thrive in this rich agricultural land. >> it's the soil. this is the delta. the delta's got tremendously healthy and good,